FKT: Anna-Marie Watson - White Horse Trail (United Kingdom) - 2021-05-23

The White Horse Trail has been an ongoing lockdown project hunting out new trails & having an adventure on my doorstep. The chalk White Horse are iconic to Wiltshire & the Westbury White Horse has been the backdrop for my hill training over the last six years. I caught sight of the trail last year when planning other shorter FKTs in the local area though this one has been my BIG project. It's been really interesting learning the history behind each horse - https://www.wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk

The route can be split into 2 x loops though I decided to challenge myself with the FULL route going clockwise (this meant the final 35km was along the range road which is easier to move across) via the Wansdyke. The trail is really mixed passing through farmland with crops of fields or livestock (I was chased by cows three times!), along the Kennet and Avon Canal Path and the military range road which traverses the northern boundary of Salisbury Plan training area. There were 82 x stiles along the route which I counted (!). It was really wet underfoot which made the run more difficult in places - in addition my feet were wet from the first 5 mins. 

We were lucky to have a fair weather window on the Saturday with only 1 x 20 mins rain/hail storm. The remainder of the day was windy with clear skies which was a total contrast to the day before & afterwards. 

I was supported by Joe my partner in my campervan which was pure luxury with toast, hot drinks & other tasty delights to fuel along the way. Danielle Sellwood from Find It Film also filmed some footage and our plan is to create a mini documentary called the 'Eight White Horses' (working title). Watch this space :)